Euro NCAP Launches New Truck Safety Ratings

Euro NCAP has introduced its first-ever TRUCK SAFE assessment program, focusing on Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) safety. The initial set of ratings aims to enhance safety on European roads by evaluating the active and passive safety features of various HGV models. Volvo Trucks emerged as a leader in this new safety assessment, while IVECO’s S-WAY fell short, scoring only one star.

Key Highlights:

The TRUCK SAFE program is Euro NCAP’s first safety assessment for Heavy Goods Vehicles.
Volvo’s FH Aero and FM models achieved five-star ratings, showcasing their advanced safety systems.
The IVECO S-WAY model scored one star, indicating significant room for improvement.
The assessment evaluates trucks across three categories: Safe Driving, Crash Avoidance, and Post-Crash Rescue.
CitySafe accreditation was awarded to four models, recognizing their urban safety features.

Euro NCAP Launches New Truck Safety Ratings

Euro NCAP has been a leader in evaluating vehicle safety for nearly three decades, and now, for the first time, it has extended its focus to include HGVs. This new initiative is a significant step towards the Vision Zero goal, aimed at eliminating traffic fatalities and serious injuries. HGV crashes, given their size and impact, are among the most severe incidents on European roads, accounting for a disproportionate number of fatalities. With the new TRUCK SAFE program, Euro NCAP aims to address these challenges by providing objective safety performance measures for HGVs, helping stakeholders select the safest options.

HGV Safety: Key Insights

Severity of HGV Crashes: Despite representing less than 3% of Europe’s traffic, HGVs are responsible for 15% of accident fatalities. Notably, 89% of these casualties are other road users, not truck occupants.
Economic Importance: HGVs transport 95% of goods across Europe, making their safety a critical aspect of overall road safety. Improving truck safety has the dual benefit of reducing road fatalities and supporting economic growth.
Unifying Stakeholders: The TRUCK SAFE program aims to bring together road authorities, hauliers, insurers, and manufacturers, establishing harmonized best practices across the industry.

Assessment Methodology

The TRUCK SAFE program evaluates trucks based on a lifecycle approach, considering the safety performance before, during, and after an incident. Trucks are assessed across three main categories:

Safe Driving: Evaluates driver engagement, vision, and vehicle assistance systems.
Crash Avoidance: Measures the effectiveness of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in avoiding collisions.
Post-Crash: Assesses rescue information and the ease of occupant extrication during the ‘golden hour’ after an accident.

Each truck is given a score for each category, which is combined to determine an overall rating out of five stars. Additionally, the CitySafe accreditation is awarded to trucks that excel in urban safety features, such as automated emergency braking for vulnerable road users.

Initial Results

Nine trucks were tested, representing 95% of the fleet long-haul segment currently on European roads. The testing showed significant variations in safety performance:

Volvo FH Aero and Volvo FM both scored five stars, with CitySafe accreditation, highlighting their strong safety features for both highway and urban environments.
The IVECO S-WAY model received only one star, indicating it lacks several critical safety features compared to its competitors.
DAF XF, MAN TGX, Mercedes-Benz Actros L, and Scania R-series earned three-star ratings, with strengths in specific areas but also notable weaknesses.

Moving Forward

The introduction of the TRUCK SAFE program marks a pivotal moment in commercial vehicle safety. This rating system is expected to influence manufacturers, encouraging them to enhance their safety features to meet or exceed these standards. As Euro NCAP continues to expand its safety assessments, the focus will eventually include passive safety measures by 2030, further addressing the risks posed by truck-to-car collisions.

The next batch of TRUCK SAFE assessments will target the long-haul fleet rigid segment, with results expected in April 2025. The urban distribution segment is also set for evaluation, with results to be released in October 2025.